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Innovative Padding Design for Side Impact Protection
Technical Paper
946115
Sector:
Language:
English
Abstract
In October 1990, the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) issued a final rule requiring dynamic side
impact protection in passenger cars effective September 1993 (MY
1994). The rule requires chest and pelvis protection in these
vehicles in side crashes. Automobile manufacturers have redesigned
some of their vehicles to meet the new requirements by making
structural modifications and by introducing energy absorbing
padding in the doors.
The padding which is customarily being used in vehicles is
rectangular pieces of plastic foams. This paper discusses simple
modifications of such padding materials to make them more effective
for cushioning the chest and pelvis in side crashes of vehicles.
Further, a concept of a hydraulic bubble pad is analyzed in this
paper. Parametric analyses of various padding characteristics and
their effects on thoracic and pelvic injury potential are included.
Corroboration of the findings given in this paper is suggested
through bench testing and vehicle testing of suitable bubble pad
designs.